Jan 6, 2020, 2:53 pm
Last edit by: boboqui
Reminder: you must enroll and select UA as your airline, then wait a day -- BEFORE making a reimbursable purchase.
WARNING: Beginning in mid-January 2021 Travel Bank (and its former Gift Registry) purchases are coded as Gift Certificates rather than Special Service Tickets. Travel Bank purchases are no longer reimbursed.
In mid-February 2021 United again changed the processing of Travel Bank deposit transactions. They are coded as Special Service Tickets, and reimbursed by American Express, but no assurance this will continue. Purchase here: https://www.united.com/offers/travelcash
Travel bank amounts that you can purchase are $50, $100, $250, or more (see screenshot in this post). There is no $200 amount so Platinum card holders with $200 credit will need to purchase 2 x $100.
If credit is not automatically issued (unlikely based on data points), do not contact Amex customer service as it might lead them to close the loophole.
See also this thread in the United Airliines forum on TravelBank: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...get-bonus.html
United does not sell giftcards. As of December 2016 American Express no longer reimburses MPX transactions.
Airline Taxes on Award Tickets Doesn't seem to work anymore; see post 179 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/25297196-post179.html and #391
Economy Plus and First Class Upgrade Fees Subscription worked in Feb 2020, data point here. As of December 2016 there were conflicting posts; one stating that an upgrade to E+ coded as an "upgrade fee" and was, therefore, not reimbursed. Others said they were reimbursed as it was coded as "preferred seat upgrade." In February 2019, three separate FTer reported receiving varying amounts of reimbursement (dependent upon which card was used for the purchase) after purchasing an E+ annual subscription. The E+ subscriptions code as "preferred seat upgrade". Upgrading from E to FC will also not be reimbursed because it codes as a passenger ticket even when done after buying the original ticket. There seems to be a distinction between seat upgrades being reimbursed, while ticket upgrades are not.
Award AcceleratorI would not risk this. The last report of being reimbursed for Award Accelerator was for $68 on October 27, 2011. Every post about Award Accelerator since has reported "No reimbursement."
Eligible incidental fees include:
Discussion continues here: Airline fee $250/$200 reimbursement reports: UA only (2022)
In mid-February 2021 United again changed the processing of Travel Bank deposit transactions. They are coded as Special Service Tickets, and reimbursed by American Express, but no assurance this will continue. Purchase here: https://www.united.com/offers/travelcash
Travel bank amounts that you can purchase are $50, $100, $250, or more (see screenshot in this post). There is no $200 amount so Platinum card holders with $200 credit will need to purchase 2 x $100.
If credit is not automatically issued (unlikely based on data points), do not contact Amex customer service as it might lead them to close the loophole.
See also this thread in the United Airliines forum on TravelBank: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...get-bonus.html
United does not sell giftcards. As of December 2016 American Express no longer reimburses MPX transactions.
Airline Taxes on Award Tickets Doesn't seem to work anymore; see post 179 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/25297196-post179.html and #391
Economy Plus and First Class Upgrade Fees Subscription worked in Feb 2020, data point here. As of December 2016 there were conflicting posts; one stating that an upgrade to E+ coded as an "upgrade fee" and was, therefore, not reimbursed. Others said they were reimbursed as it was coded as "preferred seat upgrade." In February 2019, three separate FTer reported receiving varying amounts of reimbursement (dependent upon which card was used for the purchase) after purchasing an E+ annual subscription. The E+ subscriptions code as "preferred seat upgrade". Upgrading from E to FC will also not be reimbursed because it codes as a passenger ticket even when done after buying the original ticket. There seems to be a distinction between seat upgrades being reimbursed, while ticket upgrades are not.
Award AcceleratorI would not risk this. The last report of being reimbursed for Award Accelerator was for $68 on October 27, 2011. Every post about Award Accelerator since has reported "No reimbursement."
Eligible incidental fees include:
- Checked baggage fees (including overweight/oversize)
- Itinerary change fees
- Phone reservation fees
- FareLock
- Pet flight fees
- Seat assignment fees (E+)
- In-flight amenity fees (beverages, food, pillows/blankets, headphones)
- In-flight entertainment fees (excluding wireless internet unless it is billed by the airline.)
- Airport lounge day passes & annual memberships
- Onboard WIFI (provided it is billed by the airline.)
Discussion continues here: Airline fee $250/$200 reimbursement reports: UA only (2022)
Airline fee $250/$200/$100 reimbursement reports: UA only (2020-21)
Jan 8, 2020, 12:51 pm
#31
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 200
Booked united award flight with $16 in tax for 3 people. Charge posted 2 days and no credited.
I have to book another international award on united.com that has $320 in tax and fees. Looks like it won't be credited.
What a terrible thing this airline credit has become. zero ways to take advantage of this
I have to book another international award on united.com that has $320 in tax and fees. Looks like it won't be credited.
What a terrible thing this airline credit has become. zero ways to take advantage of this
Jan 9, 2020, 4:33 am
#32
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: Virgin Atlantic Silver, IHG Diamond, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Diamond, AA Platinum Pro
Posts: 1,386
Jan 9, 2020, 12:35 pm
#33
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 116
DP: Bought 4 Economy Plus seats on Tuesday through the "travel bundles" section, not the seat selector. Coded as "Packages" and indicator is showing that I will get reimbursed. Interestingly, buying through this section was about $5 cheaper per seat than selecting individually in the seat selector.
Jan 9, 2020, 1:06 pm
#34
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Rockies
Programs: UA Platinum, HHonors Diamond, Bonvoy occasionally Bonvoyed Mostly
Posts: 428
Hi all,
apologies if this is a bit off topic but do wifi purchases charged to the Platinum earn 5x points or is that just 1x ?
apologies if this is a bit off topic but do wifi purchases charged to the Platinum earn 5x points or is that just 1x ?
Jan 9, 2020, 8:40 pm
#36
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 29
United Club annual pass
Has anyone had success with getting more than one day pass credited to the cost of an annual pass?
Jan 10, 2020, 9:51 am
#38
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: IAH
Programs: HH Diamond, Bonvoy something
Posts: 126
DP for something I didn't see in the Wiki
Purchased FareLock on 1/6 and credit received on 1/9
Purchased FareLock on 1/6 and credit received on 1/9
Jan 10, 2020, 2:40 pm
#40
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Rockies
Programs: UA Platinum, HHonors Diamond, Bonvoy occasionally Bonvoyed Mostly
Posts: 428
Thanks for that DP, although this is not an expense that is suitable to cover the whole credit, its still useful to know as i do purchase farelock, especially for work travel every couple of times a year.
Jan 11, 2020, 2:31 pm
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
But also paying for Economy+ extra legroom seats (obviously only available on coach bookings, whether paid or award).
And also lounge passes (if you don't get enough of them from a Chase United card).
So a variety of things can work, but each individual thing that can work isn't practical for certain people.
Jan 11, 2020, 7:43 pm
#42
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 200
Of those, bag fees only, I think. (But if someone happens always travel carry-on only, like I do, then those don't help either.)
But also paying for Economy+ extra legroom seats (obviously only available on coach bookings, whether paid or award).
And also lounge passes (if you don't get enough of them from a Chase United card).
So a variety of things can work, but each individual thing that can work isn't practical for certain people.
But also paying for Economy+ extra legroom seats (obviously only available on coach bookings, whether paid or award).
And also lounge passes (if you don't get enough of them from a Chase United card).
So a variety of things can work, but each individual thing that can work isn't practical for certain people.
Jan 11, 2020, 11:55 pm
#43
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 79
So it seems that going forward the easiest way to use this credit is the following:
1. Book a fully refundable round trip ticket months out in advance
2. Add an animal to the flights, triggering $125x2 in pet fees
3. Get $200 reimbursement
4. Cancel entire flight, getting back flight cost + $250 in pet fees in one lump sum
Is this correct?
1. Book a fully refundable round trip ticket months out in advance
2. Add an animal to the flights, triggering $125x2 in pet fees
3. Get $200 reimbursement
4. Cancel entire flight, getting back flight cost + $250 in pet fees in one lump sum
Is this correct?
Jan 12, 2020, 4:51 am
#44
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,957
Do you see any reports that lead you to believe that this would work? The rules exclude airfare from reimbursement. The only time airfare is reimbursed is if the American Express system mistakes a ticket purchase for a fee.
Jan 12, 2020, 7:04 am
#45
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Programs: Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards
Posts: 191
Have you (or anyone else) successfully tried this yet and was able to keep the credit after the refund? Also to confirm.. should I be using my Amex to book the flight itself, or use a different card? (previous posts in 2019 indicated booking the flight itself with a non-amex card...)
I used to book the flight with my CSR, add a pet and pay with my Platinum. When cancelling, it used to say that the whole amount would be refunded to my CSR. My guess is that this issue confused the system so that the pet fee refund never posted to my Platinum allowing enough time for the Amex statement credit to post. When I did this yesterday it said X amount would go into my CSR and Y amount to my Platinum. I think the pet fee will never post.
Will update in a couple days.